Sunday, September 1, 2013

B17s Galore!

Back in June we had a guest fly into the airport, Sentimental Journey. Being a WW2 warbird fan I made a pest of myself for the entire time it was here.

Being a Studebaker guy one of the first things I checked was to see how many Studebaker powerplants it had,

3 out of the 4 were made in South Bend. During the war Studebaker was of the companies licensed to build them.

While it was here I made a couple connections that would pay off later.

This week I rolled into the shop and saw a familiar shape on the flight line, another B17, this time it was Aluminum Overcast. it was flying with 1 Studebaker.

This time I remembered my camera when they were allowing folks inside.

Bombardiers area, would have had the best view of what was coming but during the war I doubt that was a good thing.

Cockpit, note the Garmins on the dash. I thought they were cheating but then again I can understand why.

Hidden above the bulkhead that leads to the bomb bay and waist gunners area they had this.

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It was hooked into the com system and the Sirius was working.

Thru the bomb bay, being skinny was a bonus here.

Radio operators area.

This is the top of the ball turret for the belly gunner, very cramped and had to be a terrifying spot to be during a bomb run.

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Waist gunners spot. The only armor in the plane is under the guns here.

Way back in the back is the tailgunners post.

It was a very enjoyable to see and board these aircraft but as I looked around it dawned on me that there were a whole bunch of men younger than me that flew into the great unknown on these things. Once they left the ground the real terror began and ahead of them was a hell that defies the imagination.

I cannot fathom what each and every trip must have been like. To say I have respect for those that served during that time is an understatement. I'm not sure I could do it and I don't see how they did.

Thankfully they pulled it off or our world would not be the place it is now.

I did use some of the connections I made on the first B17 to get our Studebaker out on the flight line for a quick photoshoot.

Its a 63 Lark, 6cyl/auto. Yeah its slow but it looks great and gets great mileage.﻿

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Sadly it leaves tomorrow and I'll be standing on the flight line to see it go. Rumor has it next spring we'll be having a Ford Trimotor. Cant wait!